Alexander Zverev: “The Performance Was Quite S***… But I Won” — Top Seed Survives Second Straight Five-Set Marathon at US Open
For the second consecutive match at Flushing Meadows, top-seeded Alexander Zverev found himself pushed to the absolute brink. In a late-night battle that extended until 2:15 a.m. Friday morning, the World No. 2 survived a fierce test from Frenchman Quentin Halys, prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 after four hours and 33 minutes inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Coming off a four-hour, 53-minute opening-round victory over Lorenzo Sonego just two days prior, Zverev has now logged over nine combined hours on court across his first ten sets of the tournament.In doing so, the 29-year-old German became the first top seed in the Open Era to open a Grand Slam with back-to-back five-set victories.
“The performance was quite s***, to be honest,” a candid Zverev admitted in his on-court interview.“But, I won, and that’s the most important thing. I’ve been here for another four and a half hours. 2:15 a.m. again.”
Brawn over Precision in Midnight Thriller
Competing as the top seed at a major for the first time in his career, the reigning Roland Garros champion struggled to find his cleanest baseline striking. Uncharacteristically prone to forehand errors, Zverev relied heavily on his booming serve to stay afloat against the world No. 52, firing 29 aces across the match.
Halys put heavy pressure on the German in the third set, opening up a 4-1 lead and holding a break point for a double-break cushion at 5-1.Zverev dug deep to reel off three straight games, eventually claiming the 75-minute set in a tiebreak.After Halys responded by sweeping the fourth-set tiebreak to force a decider, Zverev’s superior physical conditioning took over in the fifth.
Immediately ripping his shirt off upon clinching match point, Zverev credited his intense physical regimen for getting him across the finish line.
“That’s what I go to the gym for,” Zverev said.“That’s what I go to the track for and train for — to be able to come out on top of these difficult moments when you’re not playing best, when you’re not hitting winners left and right, just getting through these kinds of matches.”
Up Next: Alejandro Tabilo in Round 3
Zverev, the 2020 US Open runner-up, became the first ATP player to reach 20 Grand Slam match wins in 2026 as he continues his quest for a maiden Flushing Meadows crown.
He advances to the third round to face 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo.Zverev leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 2-0, having previously defeated the Chilean in the opening round at Flushing Meadows last year.
